Tube blank including method and apparatus for
fabricating tube blanks and tube bodies



B May 24, 1966 M. o. SCHUR 3,252,388

TUBE BLANK INCLUDING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING TUBE BLANKSAND TUBE BODIES Original Filed Sept. 4, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 ea 1* I m\h v 99 663] FIG I INVENTOR. M/LTON 0. SCHUR N A T TOR/V5 Y May 24, 1966M. o. SCHUR 3,252,338

TUBE BLANK INCLUDING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING TUBE BLANKSAND TUBE BODIES Original Filed Sept. 4, 1962 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.M/LTON O. SCHUR A T TOPNE V M/LTON 0. SCHUR BYK/ ATTORNEY M o SCHUR 3,TUBE BLANK INCLUDING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INVENTOR.

11 Sheets-Sheet 5 FABRICATING TUBE BLANKS AND TUBE BODIES 2 6 w 7 A m 4m x e 65 6 d (4 mm 5 1?.

4 mm 02, Y an r M0 May 24, 1966 M. o. scHuR 3,252,338

TUBE BLANK INCLUDING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING TUBE BLANKSAND TUBE BODIES Original Filed Sept. 4., 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR.

M/L7ON 0. SCHUR ATTORNEY 3,252,388 APPARATUS FOR May 24, 1966 M. o.SCHUR TUBE BLANK INCLUDING METHOD AND FABRICATING TUBE BLANKS AND TUBEBO Original Filed Sept. L, 1962 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. MILTON O. SCHURBY WM A T TORNEV On U v. 8 6 E 8 t TC N 3 e N P r e E O 2 5 N T 2 .w 1NA 3" e e O E r 1 m l M Y B M O SCHUR TUBE BLANK INCLUDING METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR FABRICATING TUBE BLANKS AND TUBE BODIES Original FiledSept.

May 24,

y 1966 M. o. SCHUR 3,252,388

TUBE BLANK INCLUDING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING TUBE BLANKSAND TUBE BODIES Original Filed Sept. 4, 1962 ll SheetsSheet 7 FIG-l9 beINVENTOR. MILTON 0. SCHLI'R A TTOFPNE V May 24, 1966 M. O. SCHUR TUBEBLANK INCLUDING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FABRIGATING TUBE BLANKS ANDTUBE BODIES Original Filed Sept. 4., 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 ZNVENTOR.M/LTO/V 0. SCHUR A 7 TOP/V5 V May 24, 1966 M. o. SCHUR 3,252,388

TUBE BLANK INCLUDING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING TUBE BLANKSAND TUBE BODIES Original Filed Sept. 4., 1962 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 LABELLABEL LABEL LABEL LABEL LABEL 25 BY IZfNQSU/UR May 24, 1966 OriginalFiled Sept. 4,

7 115 II MW M. O. SCHUR TUBE BLANK INCLUDING METHOD AND APPARATUS FORFABRICATING TUBE BLANKS AND TUBE BODIES 11 Sheets-Sheet l0 M/L 7' ON 0.SCHU/P EEK/( dm A 770l-P/VEV li 1"2 n H r1 rfi F; & a S:

8; & &

N A "a 3 5 5 v2 u INVENTOR. E

May 24, 1966 M. o. SCHUR 3,252,388

TUBE BLANK INCLUDING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING TUBE BLANKSAND TUBE BODIES Original Filed Sept. 4, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 TUBEFORMER I a saw/v0 36 7 38 4 PATH INVEN r012. M/LTON 0. SCHUE BYKJJWATTORNEY United States Patent This application is a division ofco-pending application Serial No. 221,263, filed September 4, 1962, nowPatent No. 3,202,566.

The present invention relates to containers and relates in particular totubular segments which are convertible into containers.

More specifically, the invention relates to'convolutely wound tubebodies which are convertible into tube segments and thence intocontainers.

durin fabrication. The invention includes a method of fabricating tube gbodies including apparatus operable to practice the method.

The invention also includes a novel blank of flat stock material and anovel method of fabricating the blank.

The language wound convolutely is intended to denote a generallyconcentric winding of sheet stock material into a tubular formationwhere there is substantially 10 lead (no helix is generated) or axialadvance of a given layer of stock relative to an adjacent layer as ordi-3 iarily occurs in helically wound tubular bodies already vell known inthe art.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a novel )llllk of stockmaterial which is convertible into a tubuar body and further convertibleinto a tubular segment.

The term blank is intended to designate composite r unitary stockmaterial in the form of flat sheets or in re form of a roll of stockmaterial susceptible of uninding and of continuously advancing to acutting station 'here the stock is converted continuously into flatsheets ha y a suitable cutting operation.

A further feature of the invention is the provision E a novel blank ofstock which is convertible into a tube )dy and further convertible intoa plurality of tube gments where each blank carries a repetitive patternof 4,

dicia so spaced that a single pattern of indicia is invidual to acorresponding tube segment ultimately rmed.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision t e a novelblank of stock material which IS convertible uh Wmdmg process :0 tubebodies and thence into tube segments where e side of the blank carries arepetitive pattern of label licia and the other side thereof carries atleast two items defining an adhesive pattern and a barrier maialpattern.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision a novel methodof winding tube bodies.

\ further feature of the invention is the provision of ovel tube body ortube segment which is readily contible into closed containers.

I further feature of the invention is the provision of ovel tube segmentfabricated by convolutely winding a 1k of stock material where the blankis formed comitely of body stock, label stock and barrier material :k.

provision of and cutting further feature of the invention is the avelapparatus for winding tube bodies tube bodies into tube segments.

mong additional features of the invention is the 'ision of an automatictube body fabricating method apparatus in which a tube blank is woundinto a tube I and cut into a plurality of tube segments without by mesne5 3,252,388 Patented May 24, 1966 moving the tube body or the cuttingelement in an axial I direction relative to the longitudinal axis of thetube.

It is well to note at this time that many prior art tube winding methodsand devices, such as disclosed in US. 2,734,432, involve a helicalwinding step in forming a tube.

In such operations the tube is advanced continuously in an axialdirect-ion as it is wound and is continuously in motion, axially,passing over and moving away from 10 a mandrel upon which the tubeWinding occurs.

In processes where to adhere to the mandrel especially when the surfaceof the stock is coated with resinous material such as polyethylne. Thisproblem is magnified if heat is utilized or if the stock material istightly wound.

The present invention does not involve this adhesion problem because thetube body is not advanced axially In helical winding processes it isnecessary to reciprocate a cutting element, to and fro, along a pathgenerally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube toeliminaterelative motion in an axial direction (between the tube 25 and thecutter during cutting) in order to make a clean,

35 tively long lap seam in square, transverse cut across the tube whenconverting it into tube segments.

Mechanisms for reciprocating the cutters in the above fashion arecomplicated and their inertia limit production 0 speeds.

In addition, the helically wound tube presents a problem of labelregistering particularly when the label is applied helically.

Inherently a helically wound tube also develops a relacomparison to agiven axial length is desirable to keep a seam as minimize vulnerabilityto scam of helical tubing. It short as possible to leakage.

In contrast, the present invention provides a tube body ving theshortest possible lap seam relative to a given axial length of tube.

A further feature of the invention is the provision ofa tube windingprocess and apparatus in which the cut- .ting step involves a very smalldegree of motion in the cutting element and that motion is limited to adirection normal to the longitudinal axis of the tube or to rotarymotion.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a in which theproblems arising in connection with registering labels are reduced to aminimum.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a shockresistant tube body having a minimum tendency to leak or telescope atlap seams.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a method andapparatus for winding tube bodies within a tube former or housing.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a highspeed tube winding method and apparatus operable to produce a finishedtube segment including exterior label indicia and internal barrier orliner material upon the practice of a minimum number of steps.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of an arbor orturret machine arranged to carry a number of tube formers where theturret is operable to convey each tube former, in sequence, to a blankfeeding station and thence to a blank discharge station includingintermediate stations, as desired, whereby tube bodies and tube segmentsare produced at high speed.

winding may comprise a sheet or webof body stock having a repetitivelabel indicia laminated (or printed) on one side of the stock and acoating or film of barrier material laminated to the opposite side ofthe stock to define a first pattern and a coating of adhesive applied tothe said opposite side to define a second pattern.

A process embracing certain principles of the present invention anduseful for winding blanks convolutely to develop tube bodies which areconvertible into tube segments may comprise the steps of feeding theblank into a cylindrical tube former, said blank having a leading edgeand a trailing edge, winding the blank within the tube former to developa tube body having a wall structure defining at least one layer of bodystock, the leading edge of said blank being disposed on the interior ofsaid body and the trailing edge being disposed on the exterior of thebody and thereafter separating the tube body by a plurality oftransverse cuts to develop a plurality of tube segments.

As apparatus operable to practice the process of the present inventionutilizing a blank embracing the principles described above may compriseat least one fixed hollow housing having a generally circular interioras viewed in cross section, a rotatable, elongated mandrel disposedin'said housing, means for rotating said mandrel relative to thehousing, means for positioning said mandrel relative to said housing sothat the exterior surface of the mandrel and the interior surface of thehousing form a nip and a feed opening communicating with the interior ofthe housing so that a blank of stock material may be fed into thehousing through said opening to enter said nip whereupon the blank isdrawn into the housing and wound convolutely within the housing by thecooperation between said rotary mandrel and said fixed housing.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent when read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a portion of an apparatus useful to processblanks;

FIG. 2 is a continuation side view of the illustrationof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 2 as viewed in the plane of the line 3- 3;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side view of FIG. 5 as viewed in the plane of the line 66;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a portion of the illustration of FIG. 6 asviewed in the plane of line 7-7;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 6 showing the junctionof the blank feeder and a tube former with certain parts broken away forclarity;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the illustration of FIG. 6 as viewed in theplane represented by the line 9'-9 showing the mechanism for ejectingfinished tube segments from the tube former at the tube ejectionstation;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of the illustration of FIG. 6showing a plurality of microswitches actuated by the tube former turret;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal section of a tube former of FIG. 6 as viewedalong section line 11-11;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of FIG. 11 as viewed in the plane of line12-12;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view similar to the illustration of FIG. 12showing an alternative means for removing tube segments from the tubeformer;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of FIG. 13 as observed in the plane of theline 14-44;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a view of the tube former turret of FIG. 6 as viewed in theplane of the line 16-16;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a stripper device utilized to striptube segments from the tube former;

30 abruptly to a second FIG. 18 is a cross-section of a typical tubesegment made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a typical finished tube segment;

5 FIG. 20 is a plan view of a tube blank prior to winding;

FIG. 21 is an end view of the blank of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a view of the bottom side of the blank of FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a top plan view of a double blank;

FIG. 24 is an end view of the blank of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a cor-responding view of the bottom side of said tube blank;

FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram of the air system leading to the tubeformer bellows and the tube former mani- 15 folds;

FIG. 27 is a schematic layout showing the direction of advance of thebody stock and blanks during the course of fabrication of tube segments;and

'FIG. 28 is a perspective view of an alternative design 20 of the tubeformer.

In general, t-ube segments are made by advancing a web of body stock ina first direction while simultaneously laminating a label indicia to thebottom side and applying at least a pattern of barrier material and apattern 25 of adhesive to the'top side.

The prepared stock is continuously cut into sections or blanks where theblanks correspond to a given number oi tube segments ultimatelyfabricated from the blank.

The direction of advance of the blanks is changec' direction and theside edge thereo: adjacent the pattern of barrier material becomes aleading edge as the blank is fed into a longitudinal slit in a 'tllbtformer.

The tube former comprises a generally tubular membe having a regular orsmooth interior surface generally de fining a circle in cross-section.

The tubular member is fixed and is fitted with an it ternal, rotatablemandrel. The mandrel is so dispose relative to the tubular member thatthe external surface c 40 the mandrel and the internal surface of thetubular men ber form a bite or nip.

The blank is fed through the slot, leading edge first, int the nip withthe result that the rotation of the mandr relative to the tubular memberis effective to drive tl blank along an arcuate path while being guidedby tl smooth interior surface of the tubular member operati' to wind theblank convolutely intoa multi-walled Itubul body with the leading edgeof the blank on the interior the body and the trailing edge on theexterior of the hot The convolute tubular body, thus formed, is cut intoplurality of tube segments ready for further fabricati into containers.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and to FIGS through 5, inparticular, there is shown, schematically,

apparatus for making blanks useful in the practice of 1 presentinvention.

The reference numeral 10 designates a web of bc stock which, in theillustrated embodiment of the inv tion, is a web of kraft paperadvancing continuously fr a supply roll 11 in the direction of the arrowand drawn driven pinch rolls 12, 13 and 14.

The body stock 10 advances over idler pulley 16 laminating rolls 17where the body stock is lamina-tec' a barrier material 18 which, in thedisclosed embodirr of the invention, is a web of polyvinylidenechloride.

The web of barrier material 18 advances from the ply roll 19 and passesover adhesive applicator 21 an thereafter bonded to the body stock 10 atthe lamina rolls 17. In the succeeding claims, the barrier mate may bereferred to as a first pattern or a barrier patt Depending upon theliner requirements of the cont ers ultimately fabricated from the tubesegments prod] by the practice of the present invention, it is contemplthat various barrier materials may be utilized and ap;

to the body stock by laminating a web vthereto (as it for example) orthe barrier material the body stock in the form of a coating bypainting, spraying or utilization of a doctor blade.

A roll of label stock 22 in the form of a web 20 having printed thereon,repetitively, a commercial label indicia is advanced continuously overidler roller 23 past adhesive applicator 24 to pinch rolls 26 where thelabel stock is laminated to the underside of the body stock 10 to produce a web of composite stock identified by the reference numeral 27.The label indicia faces downwardly as viewed in FIG. 1.

The repetitive character of the label indicia must be correlated withthe axial length and number of individual tube segments, ultimatelyfabricated, so that one pat-tern of label indicia becomes .individual toeach tube segment. That is, the label indicia 20 must be orientedrelative to the stock 10 and the side of the label indicia pattern mustbe so selected that the exterior surface of the finished tube segmentscarries a well oriented, symmetrically arranged label pattern.

Obviously the invention label indicia can be a present disclosure may beapplied to ontemplates that the repetitive pplied to the underside ofthe body stock 10 by direct printing thereon as surface conditions andas manufacturing procedures of the body stock permit.

As will be more apparent hereinafter and as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19,label stock indicia ultimately appear on the exterior of the finishedtube segment while the barrier naterial 18 falls on the interior of thefinished segment.

Frequently it is desirable to protect or seal the edge 28 {FIGS 4 and18) of the body stock 10 with barrier maerial to avoid presentingany-uncoated surface to the prodlcts ultimately packaged within the tubesegment.

If edge sealing is desired, the barrier material 18 is dis- -1acedslightly (relative to the body stock 10 (displaced :pwardly as viewed inFIG. 4) to provide a margin of arrier material projecting over the bodystock 10 as at 29.

A suitable edge folding device is provided at 31 to fold ontinuously aprojecting margin over and around the :lge 28 of the body stock 10 toprovide a narrow ribon 32 of barrier stock upon the bottom or undersideof re body stock as is most apparent in FIG. 18 and in I6. 20.

The ribbon 32 is particularly useful when it is desired I seal thebarrier material directly to barrier material I make a lap seam such asthe lap seam indicated by e reference numeral 33 in FIG. 18.

Obviously when the barrier material raying, painting or doctor blades,it is anticipated that itable applicators will be utilized to coat theedge 28 d to develop the ribbon or band 32.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 through 5, note that the mposite stock 27,having been fully laminated by the me it reaches edge folder 3=1,proceeds to the right, as

:wed in FIG. 1, as a unitary structure and advances to :ter rolls 34where the composite stock 27 is cut conuously into blanks comprisinguniform lengths of flat ck identified by the reference numerals 36, 37and 38.

at this point a second pattern and a third pattern of tenial is added tothe composite stock 27 now existing the form of tube body blanksidentified by the refere numerals 36, 37 and 38. See, also, FIGS. 20

Jugh 22.

is stated previously,

y stock 10 may be t first pattern.

1 the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the

let material is polyviny-lchloride.

he second pattern is applied by barrier sealer applir 39 which, in thedisclosed embodiment of the inion, comprises a ribbon of a suitableplastisol idenl by the reference numeral 41 in FIGS. 20 and 21 :tive toprovide a tight seal in the longitudinal seam A plastisol compatiblewith a barrier of polyvinylride is comprised of a Saran type polyvinylidene barrier material 18 applied to the sometimes referred tohereinafter is applied by,

resin dissolved in three p te-trahydro-furan and toluene.

Depending upon the parti it may be necessary to adjust or ch compoundapplied by applicator arts of an equal mixture of cular barrier materialutilized, ange the nature of the 39 to insure a proper sealing reactionwith the barrier material.

The third pattern on the viewed in FIGS. 4, 20 and 21 hesive 42 appliedby adhesive Thus, by way of review,

36, 37 and 38, the details of 21 and 22 are coated with at least a firstpattern of barrier maof barrier activator material 41,

operable to sea-l two layers a lap seam 33 (FIG. 18).

terial 1 of bar The third pattern comprises the adhesive coating 42 usedto bind the convolutions of bod also apparent in FIG. 18.

After the three patterns plied to the tube blanks, pi drive each blankin into a blank accelerator ind ence numeral 46.

less belts 47 and 4 or tines 49 and 51 example, in the regio in FIG. 5,to propel the accelerated speed for a rea apparent hereinafter.

A typical speed of adva be of the order of 200 feet r ordinarilyincreases this minute.

Although the blank tor 46 by grasping and it appears advisable to grasof barrier material 18 beca in contrast to the tacky cha the surface ofthe glue patte Referring a blank operate may 0 direct the blank idlerrolls 54-54 and th frame 55.

Blank Sequence t drivin y stock 10 together;

just described have been apnch rolls 14 are operative to o idler pulley44 and thence ic The accelerator comprises a pair of cooperating end- 8each having blank engaging fingers to engage the blank 37, for

n of barrier pattern 18, as is apparent blanks to the right at an sonwhich will become more nce for the stock material may per minute and theaccelerator speed to about 400 feet per be advanced by the accelerag itin any suitable fashion, the blank along the pattern use it presents adry surface racter that ordinary exists at rn 42.

mo a bed of laterally spaced blank comes to rest against feeder n ofadvance of the blank 38 to a second path as shown and the blank isreceived by a blank feeder device, indicated generally by the referencenumeral 57.

The feeder device co rotating turret 63 just as 62 into register in thef Referring in detail to the driven roll 58 of bl cable by solenoids ankroll.

Cam 67 carried rnicroswitch 69 in timed rel- 64 and 66 from an op acedfrom roll 56 to re ashion shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. FIGS. 6, 7, 8' and 10,note that feeder device 57 is reciproen position in by shaft 68 isoperable to actuate ationship relative to the rotation of the formerturret 63 to actuate solenoids 64 and t hereinafter, cam shaft 68 ispowered through suitable r M which also acts to drive ated generally bythe refer- I 7 main turret shaft 71 in the direction shown through V-belt 72 and gear box 73.

The cam 67 actuatesthe solenoids 64 and 66 sequentially and the drivenroll 58 engages and drives the blank just as the slot 61 falls inregister with the leading edge of the blank. The driven roll remains incontact with the blank for an interval of the order of 100 millisecondsand is thereafter withdrawn to avoid contact with the tacky adhesivepattern 42 on the trailing edge of the blank (see FIG. 20).

The function of the other earns upon cam shaft 68 will be as describedas the specification proceeds.

Turret 63 is driven in the direction shown at about rpm, preferably at auniform speed, by motor M. Cam shaft 68, driven through a suitable gearreduction and in timed sequence relative to the rotation of turret shaft71, sequentially presents a tube former T to the blank feeder device 57at the instant the feeder is operative to drive a blank tangentiallythrough the elongated feed opening 61.

Tube former The details of a tube former unit T, sometimes referred toas a gobbler, are shown in FIGS. 6, 11, 12 and 17. A generallycylindrical tubular housing 81, formed with an elongated, tangentiallydisposed feed slot 82 is supported in turret 63 by four bracket members83, 84 and 85 (only three appears in FIGS. 6 and 11). The interiorsurface 80 of the housing 81 is highly polished and is generallycircular in cross-section.

The housing 81 is fitted with a cap 86 carrying bearings 87 and 88operable to support shaft 89 in turn supporting a mandrel indicatedgenerally by the reference numeral 90. The housing 81 is fixed tobrackets 83, 84 and 85 and the mandrel 90 is rotated relative to thehousing by motor 91 through bevel gears 92 and 93 and shaft 89. Theshaft 89 is formed with a hollow core 94, spaced radial openings 96 anda fluid pressure tight swivel fitting 97 to provide a conduit forpressurized air from a source (to be identified later) through tube 95to mandrel power means or bellows devices 98 and 99.

In addition to the shaft 89 and the bellows devices 98 and 99, themandrel 90 comprises a plurality of spaced anvils 101, 102 and 103 eachkeyed to the shaft 89 and rotatable therewith. Interposed between theanvils are spaced pairs of deformable, resilient plastic nip rolls orback-up rolls 104 and 106.

Sandwiched between the pairs of nip rolls 104 and 106 are bellowsdevices 98 and 99, respectively. Each bellows device includes a pair ofshoes 109-109, slidable axially on shaft 89. The shoes are enclosed by adiaphragm 1'11. O-rings 112 make a suitable shaft air seal so that uponintroduction of fluid pressure through radial shaft opening 96, theshoes 109-109 are separated axially with the result that the nip rollsare expanded or swelled radially from the position shown in solid linesin FIG. 11 to the dotted line position. Thus, the rolls 104 and 106 incooperation with the interior surface 80 of the housing 81 form aresilient nip or bite which upon rotation of the mandrel 90 act to drawa blank (such as the blank 40, FIG. 8) fed from blank feeder device 57through feed slot 61 (or slot 82 in FIG. 12) to wind the blankconvolutely into a tubular body.

The reference numeral 113 of FIG. 18 discloses a representativeembodiment of the tube body developed and the result is a multi-ply wallstructure comprising several layers of body stock 10, barrier material18, adhesive 42, label stock with barrier material sealer material 41.

If during the course of winding the tube body 113 or during ejection ofthe finished tube segments, lubrication is desired between the interiorsurface of the housing 81 and the exterior layer of the tube body, it iscontemplated that air under pressure be applied to the interior of thehousing 81 through conduit 110 and manifolds 114, 116 and 117.

The anvils 101, 102 and 103 cooperate with knives 119 8 carried by shaftor rod 121 to cut the tube body 113 into a plurality of tube segments122, 123 and 124.

The tube body 113 rotates during the course of winding and continues torotate after fully wound driven by the 5 numeral 90 as it rotatesrelative to the housing 81.

The rotation of the tube body is utilized to effect the outing of thetube body 113 into tube segments 122, 123 and 124 wherein a cutter carnmeans, operable in a manner to be described later, is effective, attimed intervals, to move cutter knives 1'19 from the dotted lineposition shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 to the solid line position thereof sothat the knives are received in slots 126, cucounter the rotating tubebody and cut the tube body against corresponding anvils 101, 102 and103.

The knives 119 need not rotate and obviously the tube body 113 can becut into any desired number of tube segments.

The cut tube segments 122, 123 and 124 are ejected axially to the left,as viewed in FIG. 11, by means of an jector 127 actuated periodically bya cam and follower arrangement to be described in connection with thedescription of the tube former turret 63.

A perspective view of the ejector 127 is shown in FIG. 17 and comprisesa circular sleeve 128 having an arm 129 secured tangent to the sleeveand terminating in a cam follower 131. The arm 129, sleeve 128 andfollower 131 are normally disposed in the position shown in FIG. 11 andthe arm 129 is received within and is operative to slide along feed slot82 (FIG. 12) when actuated by the engagement of follower 131 with itscam slot.

Tube former turret Referring now to FIGS. 6, 9 and 16, note that thetube former turret 63 comprises six equally spaced tube former: Tsupported by brackets 83, 84, and in turn sup ported for rotation byturret shaft 7-1. The turret shaf 71 is carried in pillow block bearings132 and 133 fixer to frame members 134 and 136.

The turret frame members 137, 138 and 140 'suppor an arcuate cam plate139 having a generally paraboli cam slot 141 engageable sequentially bycam follower 131 effective to move ejector sleeve 128 to the right 2viewed in FIG. 9 to eject tube segments and to retur the sleeve to thenormal position after ejection.

As previously described, each mandrel 90 is drive independently,preferably at rpm, by motors 9 individual to each tube former.

The knives 119, individual to each tube former, a mounted at spacedintervals upon the rod 121 and ti spacing of the knives determines thenumber of tul segments 122, 123 and 124 ultimately fabricated (s FIGS. 8and 27).

The rods 12-1 are supported at opposed ends in cm: arms C. The crankarms are centrally and pivota' supported upon turret brackets 90 andcarry a cam ft lower 146 which cooperates with a cam 147 rigidly fix tothe turret frame so that as the turret 63 rotates the direction shown(FIG. 6), cam 147 is operative move the knives of each tube former intoan operat. position in sequence as the various followers encoun 60 camprojection 148.

Compressed air system Referring now to FIGS. 10, 11, 12, 16 and 26, nthat the tube former turret 63 includes a compressed system effective to(l) operate the bellows devices FIG. 11 and (2) provide a cushion of airor air lubri tion between the interior surface of the tube former theexterior surface of the blank being wound.

A conveniently located compressor P supplies air ur pressure (in thedisclosed embodiment the air pressur of the order of 75 psi.) to themain shaft 71 of the tu 63 through a suitable air tight rotatablefitting 149.

Air under pressure is then directed via conduit 7 through solenoidvalves 151 to 156, suitable rotat:

9 10 fittings 97, to the core 94 of each tube former shaft 89L Obviouslythe sequence of the cutting step and those Radial shaft openings 96provide a passage for air to the steps performed at applicators 39 and43 is not critical interior of-each bellows device diaphragm as shown inand the sequence may be selected or changed as con- FIG. 11. siderationsof convenient manufacturing procedures Valves 151 to 156 are operable bysolenoids in. well dictate. known fashion and have two basic positions,namely, The composite stock 27 proceeds through the cutting (1)operative, in which air pressure is directed through step at a linearspeed of about 200' per minute. Next the the valve to all the bellowsdevices of a given tube former accelerator increases the linear speed ofeach blank to effective -to swell the resilient rolls 104 and 106 andabout 400" per minute and the advance of the .blank along (2) exhaust,in which air pressure within the bellows this path is terminated when itfetches up against frame devices of a given tube former is vented andreduced to 55 (FIG. 2). atmospheric pressure through exhaust vent V. Atthis time the cam shaft 68 is operating and the turret The valves 151through 156 are operated sequentially 63 is rotating in the directionshown in FIG. 3. In timed and in timed relationship relative to therotation of the sequence relative to the rotation of the turret, cam 62actutube turret 63 by the cooperation between cams 157 and atescooperating microswitch 63-to drop reciprocating roll 158 andmicroswitches 159 and 161. 58 into working relationship with its matingroll 56 effec- The cam 157 is provided with six humps or high spots tiveto feed the blank 40 into the feed slot 61 (see FIGS. and cooperatingmicroswitch 161- is operable to pres- 6 and 8) just as the tube former Tfalls into register with surize the bellows devices of each tube formerin sequence. the bite of the rolls 56 and 58.

The cooperation between cam 158 and microswitch The blank now proceedsalong a new path genera'lly 161 act to set valves 151 to 156 in theexhaust position ormal to the first direction of travel (see FIG. 27).iequentially. The rolls 56 and 58 are in contact for a fraction of a Atypical cycle for converting a tube blank into a second (of the order of100 milliseconds) and the blank Jlurality of tube segments correspondsto one revolution 40 is projected into the bite developed by theconstantly )f the turret 63 and it is preferred that the bellows devicest t d l 90 d th ntepior Surface f h fi d )8-99 of a given tube former Tbe under pressure for housing T,

lll of the cycle except the interval during which tube egments are beingejectedi.e., while a given tube former jector follower 131 (see FIG. 9)is making a working onnection with the ejector cam 141.

As stated previously, the bellows devices 9899 are ressurized to swellthe resilient rolls 104 and 106 to arm a nip or bite; obviously, therolls 104 and 106 must e relaxed to free the completed tube segmentsfrom the It is to be noted that at this time the bellows device of T ispressurized and the resilient rolls 104 and 106 are distended or swelled(see FIG. 11) so that the blank is Obviously, the width of the blank W(see FIG. 20) controls the number of layers of plies in the wall of thetube body developed.

he Prior to election by the elector Sleeve The width is not critical solong as there is at least a The air pressure necessary to lubricate theinternal suri l overlap f h l di d i i edges f the ICC of each tubeformer is much less than the pressure l k Emissary t0 actuate thebellows devices, thus, a Pressure The mandrel 90 rotates constantly atabout 180 rpm. ducing valve 162 is provided to drop the compressor andthe blank i W ound into a tubular body smartly. essure to about 35p.s.i. As the turret rotates through the arc labelled Dry in The valve162 is secured to the main turretshaft 71 FI 6, The adhesive FIG 18 |dair is directed through the valve to conduit 163 feedto Set or dry 1glven an Opportumrty each tube former manifold 114, 116 and 117 as Ifdesirable, ma be a d d I Zwn in FIGS. 12 and 26. V pp 1e Porno of theturret cycle to accelerate settin the adhesive. Air is fed constantly toeach manifold. The air enters As tube former and its i j knives Kinterior of the tube formers through radial openings h h end of h are bl Dry, fol-low r 171 4 and then bleeds to atmosphere. counters hump 172formed on fixed cutter cam 173 etfec The use of air as a lubricantbetween the interior surtive to rotate the cutters K from the os't'o l:e of the tube former and the exterior surface of the F 6 to fi positionshown in FIG F U n shown m ink 18 not always h h t0 the fahrlcahoh 9 h 0Since the formed tubular body 113 is rotating at about :ments and may beeliminated as frictional relationship 180 r.p.m., knife K is effective ti i :ween the interior of the tube former and the surface plurality oftubular segmenm 0 cm the body mm a the blank dictate.

As the tube former T reaches cam plate 139, fo'l lower 13 1 engages camtrack 141 (see FIG. 9). Simultaneously Fhe operation of the process andapparatus disclosed 021111 1 ales microswitch 151 set the pp p Operation1 described thus fa is as follows; v valve 151-156 to the exhaustposition thereby venting the web of body stock 10 is laminated to a w bf b bellows devices of tube former T to atmosphere. This 1 13 and a b f1 h 1 Stock 20, action allows the resilient rollers 104 and 106 toreturn edge 28 of the body Stock 10 and the underside to their normalposition (solid line position in FIG 11) r the edge are sealed withbarrier material. relieving the bite or nip between the rolls 104 and106 Iext the composite stock 27 is out into blanks 36, and the interiorsurta-ce of the tube former.

ind 38.

I The result is that the tubular segment-s 122, 123 and h l b l s de ofthe blanks carry a numb r f 00 1- 124 are free to move axially out ofthe tube former.

B representations of repetitive lahfil indicia indicated As the turretcontinues to rotate follower 131 traversesthe legend Label where thenumber of complete th esentations of the repetitive indicia correspondsto number of tube Segments ultimately fabricate dthe left as viewed inFIG. 11) with the result that tubular hat is, a blank bearing fivecomplete representations l-selgmentszgre dlscha'rged from the tubeformer Shown ibel indicia is a blank which is convertible into five Insegments. Although air lubrication or the air cushion previouslybviously the invention is not limited to the number desFFlbed alwaysessential It may required to be Segments fabricated from each blankfacilitate CJE'CIIOH of the tubular segments depending upon pattern ofbarrier activator 'is applied by applicator the material from which thesegments are fabricated.

nd a pattern of body stock adhesive is a plied at With continuedrotation of the turret, fol-lower 13 1 Gator 43 continues to traversethe cam slot 141 and the ejector 127 is returned to its original orstarting position shown in FIG. 11.

As the turret continues to rotate cam 1-57 signals the inflation of thebellows devices within the tube former so that the rolls 104 and 106expand to form a nip ready to receive the next tube blank as the tubeformer moves into register with the blank feeder 57.

The turret continues to cycle and the operation just describedcontinues.

In the practice of the process steps and in the operation of theapparatus just described, it is possible to produce tubular segments ofthe type disclosed in FIG. 19 having a double wall of body stock 10, alabel and a layer of barrier material on the interior at rates in excessof 100 such tubular segments per minute where the segment has a 4 inchdiameter and a 5 /2 inch length.

Double Blank symmetrical single blanks along the line referenced 166.

Thus, the leading edge of blank X is referenced 167 and the leading edgeof their direction of advance toward the tube forming rturret isindicated by the arrows referenced 169 and 171, respectively.

Obviously, the trailing edge of each blank X and Y coincides with theline referenced 166.

Prior to cutting the blank is laminated with a double width repetitivelabel pattern 172 and a double width adhesive pattern 173. Each marginof the double blank is laminated with a barrier material pattern 174 and176.

Opposed edges of the blank are covered with barrier material by returnbend portions referenced 177 and 178 and a pattern of barrier activatorappears referenced 179 and 181.

The double blank structure disclosed in FIGS. 23, 24, and 25 makes itpossible to begin with a double width roll of body stock and injects theadditional step of slitting the blank longitudinally along the linereferenced 166 prior to introduction into tube former turrets disposedadjacent the leading edges 167 and 168 respectively.

Label prjecti0n-Single blank Referring to FIGS. 18, 20, 21 and 22, it isapparent that the label stock 20 may be offset relative to the compositestock 10 to develop a margin or tail 181 to provide a smooth terminationor lap seam for the label stock.

The tail 181 eliminates the step 182 that would otherwise occur at thetrailing edge of the blank.

Alternatively the label stock may fall flush with the trailing edge ofthe blank as desired.

Alternative tube segment ejector FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 show an alternativearrangement for operating ejector sleeve 128 wherein cables 183 and 184are secured to the sleeve 128 at diametrically opposed positions.

The cables are stretched around pulleys 186 and 187 and are operated toand fro (to the right and to the left as viewed in FIG. 13) driven bymotor 188.

The ejector sleeve 128 of FIG. 13 is driven to the left to eject tubesegments in response to signals generated by cam 189 and cooperatingmicroswitch191. Cam 192 and cooperating microswitch 193 control thereversal of motor 188 to return sleeve 128 to its normal position.

blank Y is referenced 168, and 3 Split tube former In FIG. 28 the tubeformer is shown split longitudinally into three generally symmetricalarcuate sectors 201, 202 and 203. The feed slot 204 is formed in sector203 and each sector is secured to the adjacent sector by through orexpand radially during the tube winding operation.

Obviously the preferred degree of radial expansion of the sectors andthe pressure generated by the springs 212 is selected according to thethickness and composition of the tube blank material and according tothe degree of calendering desired.

Furthermore, it is anticipated that the tube former may be split intoany desired number of arcuate sectors. It is anticipated that a widevariety of modifications may be devised in the basic process steps andin the essential apparatus and blank structure of the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A method of winding tube segments comprising the steps of advancing aweb or sheet of stock material along a first path, continuously applyinga repetitive pat tern of commercial indicia to one side of said stock atat edge thereof extending along the first path, sequentially cutting thebody stock into predetermined lengths defin ing blanks where said blanksbear a predetermined rela tionship relative to tube segments and to saidpattern changing the direction of advance of said blanks to a sec ondpath in which the pattern of commercial indicia i r at the trailing edgeof each blank as it moves along th 0 second path, introducing saidblanks sequentially into tubular housing having a smooth interiorsurface an winding each said blank in said housing using said ir teriorsurface as a guide to develop a multi-layer, cor volutely-wound tubebody having said pattern on th exterior of the body and thereaftercutting said tube bod into a plurality of tube segments in register withthe repet tive pattern of said indicia.

2. A method of winding tube segments comprisir the steps of advancing aweb or sheet of stock materi along a first path, continuously applying arepetitive p2 tern of commercial indicia to one side of said stock anedge thereof extending along the first path, contin ously applyingadhesive to the opposite side thereof in pattern extending along thefirst path, sequentially cutti: the body stock into predeterminedlengths defining blan where said blanks bear a predeterminedrelationship rei tive to tube segments, changing the direction of advanof said out blanks to a second path in which the patte of commercialindicia is at the trailing edge of each bla as it moves along the secondpath, introducing said blar sequentially into a cylindrical housinghaving a smoi interior surface and winding each said blank in said hoing to develop a multi-layer, convolutely-wound t1 body using saidinterior surface as a guide so that pattr of adhesive binds the layerstogether while the indi appears on the exterior of said body, andthereal cutting said tube body into a plurality of tube segme: 3. Amethod of winding tube segments compris steps of advancing a web orsheet of stock material all a first path, continuously applying arepetitive dot pattern of commercial indicia to one side of said stcentrally of the edges extending along the first p. transversely cuttingthe body stock into predetermi lengths and longitudinally cutting thebody stock centr of said edges to define side-by-side blanks whereblanks bear a predetermined relationship relative to 1 segments and havea pattern of commercial indicia an edge thereof extending along thefirst path, chan, the direction of advance of each of said side-by-sidebl: to second paths in which the pattern of commercial int of each blankis at the trailing edge of the blank as it moves along the second path,introducing each of said blanks into a tubular housing having a smoothinterior surface and winding each of said blanks in said housing usingthe interior surface as a guide to deveolp a multilayer,convolutely-wound tube body having said pattern on the exterior of thebody and thereafter cutting said tube body into a plurality of tubesegments in register with the repetitive pattern of said indicia.

4. A method of Winding tube segments comprising the steps of advancing aweb or sheet of stock material along a first path, continuously applyinga repetitive double pattern of commercial indicia to one side of saidstock centrally of the edges extending along the first path,continuously applylng adhesive to the opposite side of said patterns atthe edges thereof extending along the first path, transversely cuttingthe body stock into predetermined lengths and longitudinally cutting thebody stock centrally of said edges to define side-by-side blanks wheresaid blanks bear a predetermined relationship relative to tube segmentsand have a pattern of commercial indicia at an edge thereof extendingalong the first path, changing the direction of advance of each of saidside-by-side blanks to second paths in which the pattern of commercialindicia of each blank is at the trailing edge of the blank as it movesalong the second path, introducing each of said blanks into acylindrical housing having a smooth interior surface and winding theblanks in said housing to develop a multi-layer, convolutely-wound tubebody using said interior surface as a guide so that the pattern 'ofadhesive binds the layers together While the indicia appears on theexterior of said body, and thereafter cutting said tube body into aplurality of tube segments.

References Cited by the Examiner FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

1. A METHOD OF WINDING TUBE SEGMENTS COMPRISING THE STEPS OF ADVANCING AWEB OR SHEET OF STOCK MATERIAL ALONG A FIRST PATH, CONTINUOUSLY APPLYINGA REPETITIVE PATTERN OF COMMERCIAL INDICIA TO ONE SIDE OF SAID STOCK ATAN EDGE THEREOF EXTENDING ALONG THE FIRST PATH, SEQUENTIALLY CUTTING THEBODY STOCK INTO PREDETERMINED LENGTHS, DEFINING BLANKS WHERE SAID BLANKSBEAR A PREDETERMINED RELATIONSHIP RELATIVE TO TUBE SEGMENTS AND TO SAIDPATTERN, CHANGING THE DIRECTION OF ADVANCE OF SAID BLANKS TO A SECONDPATH IN WHICH THE PATTERN OF COMMERCIAL INDICIA IS AT THE TRAILING EDGEOF EACH BLANK AS IT MOVES ALONG THE SECOND PATH, INTRODUCING SAID BLANKSSEQUENTIALLY INTO A TUBULAR HOUSING HAVING A SMOOTH INTERIOR SURFACENA DWINDING EACH SAID BLANK A SMOOTH INTERIOR SURFACE AND TERIOR SURFACE ASA GUIDE TO DEVELOP A MULTI-LAYER, CONVOLUTELY-WOUND TUBE BODY HAVINGSAID PATTERN ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE BODY AND THEREAFTER CUTTING SAIDTUBE BODY INTO A PLURALITY OF TUBE SEGMENTS IN REGISTER WITH THEREPETITIVE PATTERNOF SAID INDICIA.